During former Mayor Richard Daley's 22 years in office, the city of Chicago renovated or built 59 new libraries across the city.
Now one of them bears his name.
The Richard M. Daley Branch of the Chicago Public Library, at 733 N. Kedzie Ave. in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood, was dedicated Thursday.
Current Mayor Rahm Emanuel was among the attendees.
"Richard M. Daley's legacy and service to our city is exemplified by his commitment to helping Chicagoans learn and read, which was a cornerstone of his work as Mayor," said Mayor Emanuel. "Thanks to his unprecedented support for Chicago Public Libraries, minds have been opened, imaginations have been sparked and lives have been changed across the city."
Thursday's ceremony featured an unveiling of a portrait of Daley painted by artist Steve Musgrave, whose clients have included the Chicago Tribune, Sports Illustrated, the Chicago Cubs, and the city of Chicago.
The library, which features environmentally stable construction meeting LEED certification, opened July 8 and has already seen more than 10,000 patrons pass its turnstiles over the three week period, according to a library employee.
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